Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

Chapter 384: Pros and Cons
"If you pass the assessment... in principle, you can leave early..."

"Your level of accomplishment is indeed quite good... Next time, when the others have mastered the technique, we can practice together..."

Considering Xia Fan's rehearsal results, the two singing and dancing teachers hesitated for a moment, and found that there was no reason to disagree with his "early departure".

As the internal teachers of J Club, the "hit-making boy band maker", their professional level is naturally good. They have trained hundreds of idols and trainees, but this is the first time they have seen a student with such terrifying talent as Xia Fan.

"Well, good luck everyone, and see you later."

Then, under the envious and jealous gazes of everyone, Xia Fan picked up his backpack and left the practice room that was about to become a "sweat and blood hell".

……

A subway station entrance not far from J Club.

"There is actually such a thing as an 'entry and exit route for artists'. If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have been in such an awkward situation this morning..."

"However, if you don't have someone to guide you through this complicated route, you probably won't be able to understand it even if you're just given a map."

Xia Fan, wearing sunglasses and a mask, poked his head out of the subway entrance.

When he left just now, he realized that...

Inside the J Club Building, there is actually a secret route that connects to the underground parking lot and leads to several nearby subway stations. It is exclusively for contracted artists to enter on a daily basis, avoiding the embarrassing situation of fans squatting and blocking the door.

"Boy, are you some kind of 'innate hot search holy body'? You can make such a big fuss just by reporting something..."

The shabby car stopped in front of Xia Fan. Behind the rolled-down window, Higashino Yoshihide had a constipated expression on his face.

He had just seen Xia Fan off in the morning and had just returned to the company to process documents when he saw a ghost video titled "Xia Fan's Lightspeed World" on social media...

In that video, through slow motion and special effects, Xia Fan’s heroic figure breaking through the blockade of more than a dozen fanatical fans was perfectly interpreted.

"It was my first day as an idol, so I didn't know there would be fans visiting the set."

"However, an old lady of that age actually likes me. She looks really young at heart, and her muscles seem to be well-trained..."

Recalling the muscular bodies and greedy expressions of those fanatical fans, Xia Fan, who got into the car, felt embarrassed and frightened.

"I didn't expect that J-Company would be willing to let Iijima Yozo lead your mixed-race international group that has a high probability of failing. This woman is no ordinary person."

"Although you were scheduled to perform at a large stage like the Kanda Festival, you were deliberately not given the center position for your debut song. It's obvious that they were planning to promote other members."

"As far as I know, there are many programs and brands in the industry that have sent AFO a request for your cooperation, and the remuneration is also based on that of top idols. However, the agency team chose TBS's "The Secret of the Immortal" for you. This seemingly high-end project, but in fact, it is a high-paying, low-exposure project..."

"It seems that the management team has made up their minds. They don't want you to be too popular during your time in the group. It would be best if you could completely forget about it."

While smoothly shifting gears and taking off, Higashino Yoshihide discussed work matters with Xia Fan.

According to the prior agreement, Xia Fan shared information with him about the AFO group and this week's schedule as soon as possible.

"No, with J-Corp's style, it's definitely not as simple as suppressing them on the surface. There might be even more despicable actions."

"In short, you must be careful in what you say and do during this period of time and be on guard."

Thinking of the bad rumors about J Club before, he reminded Xia Fan with a serious face.

"However, it's better to have less work. No matter how busy you are during the limited group activities, you are still working for J Company to earn money. There is not much money that will be given to uncle and you..."

As if he was afraid that Xia Fan was in a bad mood, he changed his tone to one of comforting.

"Your father taught me a phrase in Dragon Country, 'You do the first day, I do the fifteenth'..." "Why don't I just give you a medical certificate and use your poor health as an excuse to only participate in group activities and use their resources to prevent them from sucking your blood?"

"Secretly negotiate those un-urgent orders first, and then take them after the limited group disbands and goes solo..."

Thinking of Xia Fan's rather unfair commission ratio in the AFO group's package contract, Higashino Yoshihide gritted his teeth and proposed fiercely.

When he signed up for the "Idol Birth Festival", he had never thought that Xia Fan would be able to debut as the most popular, so he didn't take the unfair terms in the "debut agreement" signed in advance by the agency and J-company too seriously...

Of course, as a small company with only one signed trainee and half-debuted singer, he had no right to bargain with others over the standard contract at that time.

"Yeah, I also hope to have less travel so I can have more time to write songs and go back to class."

Xia Fan stretched lazily, apparently not caring too much about the agency's "free-range" approach and enjoying his free time.

With his attendance rate this semester, he can forget about getting a scholarship, but at least he should try his best not to fail the course at the end of the semester.

"Speaking of songwriting..."

"The Minister of Communications must be hating me right now, and regretting so much that I did you a favor and helped you get that registration spot, hahahaha..."

"After learning that you were the most popular debut a few days ago, he called me for two hours and asked me to explain the pros and cons to you and to persuade you to focus your energy and time on music creation..."

Speaking of this topic, Higashino Yoshihide couldn't help but smile awkwardly.

"So, how do you plan to explain the pros and cons to me, Uncle Dongye?"

Xia Fan asked mischievously.

"Tsk, what do I need to explain?"

"This month's payment should have arrived by now. Check your bank statements yourself..."

Higashino Yoshihide stopped at the red light and pointed at Xia Fan's cell phone.

"Bank statement... Come to think of it, today is the beginning of the month..."

Xia Fan seemed to have realized something. He took out his phone at lightning speed and opened the online banking app...

"Royalty share... 13 million yen?!"

"And, poof..."

After seeing the bank statement that had arrived not long ago, he subconsciously covered his mouth.

"Hey, you look so useless, but now you are a debut idol and a famous musician..."

"This month's royalties are much higher than last month's. A bit surprising, right?"

"'I Once Thought of Ending It All' didn't make many copies, but 'Sakura' was chosen by a TV station as the background music for a documentary, and the soundtrack of 'Gurenge' also sold quite well..."

"Don't think that I, your uncle, smoke and sleep on the sofa in the office all day long. I was involved in planning all this carefully."

"Compared to you, who are fighting hard to become a debut idol and only get a meager hourly wage, the royalties from these two songs are already a direct win, so there's no need for me to say anything more..."

Very satisfied with Xia Fan's reaction, Higashino Yoshihide boasted about it with a proud look on his face.

(End of this chapter)